KATE: So, any news about the job, Meera?

MEERA: Yes. Well, I sent in my application and ... guess what?

KATE: What?
MEERA: They’ve asked me to come in for an interview.
KATE: That’s great news!
MEERA: Yes, but now I’m starting to worry.
KATE: Why?
MEERA: Well, I haven’t done many job interviews before. I did one for my last job, but that was
very different. I’m feeling nervous now.
KATE: You shouldn’t be nervous. You’re a very confident person, Meera.
MEERA: Yes, I am. But there are so many things I’m not sure about.
KATE: For example?
MEERA: Well, what should I wear for the interview? Should I wear formal clothes?
KATE: OK. You’re working with corporate clients, right?
MEERA: Yes.
KATE: And you’re dealing with clients face-to-face and not just on the phone?
MEERA: Yes, that’s what Sunil told me.
KATE: Right. I think that means you should wear smart, formal clothes for your interview. Maybe
a dress and not jeans. Matching shoes. That kind of thing.
MEERA: Right. I think I need to buy some smart office clothes. We don’t wear smart clothes in
the accounts department. Everyone dresses casually. Maybe it’s because we don’t meet the
clients.
KATE: I see! Well, if you get this job, it’ll be very different, I think.
MEERA: I hope so! Now, can you give me any advice ...

MEERA: Now, can you give me any advice about what to do in the interview? I want to come
across in the right way. You know, I want them to think I’m professional, bright, friendly.
KATE: Well, there are some obvious things. You should look at the interviewer and not at the
floor. Listen carefully to what the interviewer is saying. Smile, but not too much.
MEERA: Yes, yes. I know all that. But I’m worried in case they ask me difficult questions.
KATE: I think you should try to anticipate some of the questions and prepare some answers
for them.
MEERA: What do you mean?
KATE: Well, it’s a trainee job. So they will want to be sure that you’re adaptable.
MEERA: Sorry?
KATE: I mean, they’ll want to know that you’re good at learning new things and doing
different kinds of work. And also they’ll need to be sure that you really want a change of
career.
MEERA: OK. I’ll just write that down.
KATE: Also, they’ll probably ask you about your previous job. So you ought to mention all
your transferable skills – you remember, we talked about those last time.
MEERA: Dealing with the public, being good with figures, dealing with complaints …
KATE: Exactly – you remembered! And Meera ...
MEERA: Yes?
KATE: Well … when you talk to me about your current job, you’re often a bit ... negative
about it.
MEERA: Negative? What do you mean?
KATE: I mean, when you talk to me about your job, you always say that it’s boring, that your
colleagues are dull, that you hate it, and so on. Anyway, you mustn’t say that in your
interview.
MEERA: Well, I have to be honest.
KATE: Yes, but if you’re negative about your present employer, that’ll create a bad
impression.
MEERA: Yes, I see.
KATE: Instead of saying your job is boring, why don’t you say that you’re ready for a new
challenge?
MEERA: OK. ‘I’m ready for a new challenge.’
KATE: Excellent! And instead of saying that you don’t like your colleagues, how about saying
that you’re looking forward to working with new people who share your interests?
MEERA: ‘I’m looking forward to working with new people who share my interests.’ Is that
OK?
KATE: Wonderful. I’m sure it’s all going to go really well.
MEERA: I hope so. And do you think I should ask the interviewer questions …?

MEERA: And do you think I should ask the interviewer questions during the interview or only at
the end?
KATE: Both. Especially if you haven’t understood something. Ask them to repeat it.
MEERA: OK.
KATE: Once, when I was being interviewed for a job and the interviewer asked me a difficult
question, I asked her to repeat it, even though I’d understood it.
MEERA: Why did you do that?
KATE: To give myself more time to think of an answer!
MEERA: That’s clever!
KATE: Yes, but you shouldn’t do that more than once during an interview!
MEERA: Right.
KATE: And also if the interviewer has used a word or expression and you don’t know what it
means, ask them to explain it.
MEERA: OK. But if I ask them to explain a word or expression, won’t they think I’m stupid?
KATE: No, it’s much better to be honest. Otherwise, you could give a silly answer to a question
without realising it. Maybe it’s because the interviewer is using a technical expression only travel
agents use. Or an expression that’s only used in the company.
MEERA: Yes, I see.
KATE: But usually you should ask your questions near the end of the interview. The interviewer
will probably ask you if you have any questions.
MEERA: OK. But what if I can’t think of any?
KATE: You should always prepare some questions in advance, so that you’re ready ...